No. 811
FROM: Berlin (GMBRK) November 29, 1941
TO: Tokyo (RIKUGUNJIKAN) (Vice Minister of War) # 156.
(Parts 3‑6.) [a]
Part 3.
Furthermore, the ILLIES Company, in accordance with the Japanese Army’s plan, will operate the transportation of the agricultural and industrial cargo for Germany. Regarding the cargo only that which is acceptable to the German Economic Ministry will be shipped. The ILLIES Company will assume responsibility for the damage to the cargo, within the limits referred to in the insurance.
2nd Contract (? data ?). The ILLIES Company which is handling the cargo will send a notification from ‑2M‑ to the manufacturer. Because the ILLIES Company is handling the agricultural and industrial cargo and its transportation they will take charge of the shipping of the cargo (? in behalf of ? ‑2M‑) the manufacturer and will notify SHOWA Commercial Company of the receipt. The ILLIES Company will have nothing to do with the payment of the unpaid freight.
Part 4.
3rd‑The fees for storehouse expenses and land and sea transportation will be temporarily advanced by the ILLIES Company, then at a requisite time they (ILLIES) will Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire transfer said account to SHOWA Commercial Company. The SHOWA Company says they will pay immediately.
Since the plan is to have the bill of lading drawn up with SHOWA Commercial Company as consignor, when the said cargo arrives in Japan, only the Manchukuo authorities and SHOWA Commercial Company will possess the disposal authority.
Part 5.
4th‑The ILLIES Company will attach conditions to the entire transportation insurance up to Manchukuo (? and ?) Japan at which points the lists of goods will be delivered from the manufacturer’s warehouses. The insurance rates will be 1.5 per cent for Japan, 1.75 per cent for Manchukuo and on these fees a tax of 3 per cent will be levied. War risk insurance was not affixed but the commission charges for the above‑mentioned transportation insurance will be loaned the account by the ILLIES Company, and these should be paid back immediately.
5th‑Commission charges, storages and transportation expenses, together with the transportation insurance and other expenses add up to 3 per cent of the miscellaneous expenses loaned by the ILLIES Company.
6th‑The special account which includes the charges of Parts 3, 4, and 5 are to be paid immediately and in addition should be paid in Inland Marks. Payment to be made not more than 4 weeks at the latest after the appointed date for payment.
[a] Part 1 same number, part 2 not available.
Trans. 4‑25‑45
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No. 812
FROM: Tokyo (HSZRY) (War Office, Senior Adjutant) December 7, 1941
TO: Berlin (RIKUGUN) # 000.
Reply to your wire # 218[a].
Please get at once the 2 (ck 2) Universal Parallel [b] Testing Machines, made by the ROSENHAUSEN Company, from the SIMON EVERS Trading Company and send them by return YANAGI.
Army Technical Headquarters, General Affairs Department Chief.
[a] Not available.
[b] HEIKO.
Trans. 5‑16‑45
No. 813
FROM: Tokyo November 18, 1941
TO: Hsinking # 829.
# 226 from Ankara to this Foreign Minister.
1. During the ceremony attending the opening of Parliament the other day, the President of Turkey made a speech, in which he referred to the question of peace, saying that if Turkey could be instrumental in using its good offices to bring about peace, it would be indeed a fine thing. Since then it has been rumored that a conference may be held in Vienna and on the 10th, “The Times” argued that although peace rumors are afloat in various neutral countries, all such stories were merely German propaganda. On the 13th, Ambassador PAPEN said to me, “At the present time, Germany has absolutely no intention, as you should know, of making any peace proposals. The article in “The Times” is, of course, nothing but first‑class British propaganda. What the Turkish President doubtless meant was that for England to continue her losing struggle would be merely to prolong it to no purpose. He probably hopes very sincerely to see peace come, therefore, I fancy that this British propaganda has served no purpose but to offend Turkey.”
2. Further, in connection with the President’s speech, it is rumored here that after the fall of Moscow, Turkey will act as mediator. However, there is no indication that the belligerent nations are in any wise beguiled by them. Still Turkey, on the excuse of offering her mediations and peace talks, may find a way to change her foreign policy. We must watch this course of events.
Trans. 11‑22‑41
No. 814
FROM: Tokyo November 18, 1941
TO: Shanghai # 1163.
(Priority.)
The Italian naval attaché in Shanghai is negotiating with the Mitsui Company there to buy through the branch office of Taiseri [a] 2,000 tons of Siamese rubber to be shipped C.I.F. during December and January; the price of 4,000,000 bahts to be paid it Shanghai dollars.
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THE “MAGIC” BACKGROUND OF PEARL HARBOR
Since the question of Siamese rubber has been settled in accordance with my # 1159 [b], please instruct Mitsui to refuse.
Please get in touch with the port authorities.
[a] Kana spelling.
[b] See IV, 1157.
Trans. 11‑24‑41
No. 815
FROM: Shanghai November 18, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 2111.
Re your # 1159 [a] and # 1163 [b].
As a result of our investigations here, we have learned that the “Esso” (Panama register, due to arrive in port about the 20th), carrying a load of rubber of which the German firm of Karlwitz receives 320 tons (value in military script about 2,000,000 yen), the Japanese Continental Trading Company 203 tons (value about 1,300,000 yen, certified by the Chinese authorities), and a balance of about 70 or 80 tons (value about 500,000 yen; please verify the above conjectural amount of goods for Japanese merchants with the Teikoku Fire and Marine Insurance Company). Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire
Our official contacted Karlwitz and the German Trade Attaché, in an effort to have their portion of the above rubber released to Japan, but they said that since, in accordance with the contract, payment had been made by the German government some months before, they had no authority to handle the matter. Therefore, please negotiate with WOHLTHAT in Tokyo. This is all for the moment.
The following is strictly secret outside the department.
Although there is much supervision by our office of movement on the list of rubber export permits, we would like, as we suggested in our # 1988 [c], to release customs permits, under the protection of our Government, and, without any stricter supervision than is necessary to insure equal distribution of important goods, prevent Italy from buying any rubber here as suggested in your caption telegram.
Although there may be violent protests from the Japanese firms, we think it best not to have the rubber unloaded to the wharf until the central and. local authorities have established adequate control, in order to prevent foreign firms from acquiring it.
[a] See IV, 1157.
[b] See IV, 814.
[c] Not available.
Trans. 11‑24‑41
No. 816
FROM: Berlin November 21, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 1351.
Re my message # 1350 [a].
1. The political aims of the war against the Soviet Union is not so much the destruction of Bolshevism as it is the dismemberment of Russia as a nation. The fact that the Soviet put up
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a stronger fight than was expected, paradoxically strengthened Germany’s determination to attain her basic aim.
The German strategy with regard to Leningrad and Moscow involves considerable cruelties, but in view of the Soviet Union’s determination to pursue a war of complete destruction, it is an unavoidable one from Germany’s position.
2. British forces in the Near East and Egypt now number 31 divisions, of which only 11 divisions have modern equipment. The remainder are composed of second rate forces. Therefore, when once the German campaign in that area is launched, speedy developments are predicted in spite of the vastness of the area involved. Please be convinced of the fact that Germany is not falling for the British attempt to divide Germany’s forces and thus get herself involved in a long term war, which is Britain’s aim.
3. In view of the circumstances described in paragraph 2 of my message referred to in the heading, there is no immediate rush to do anything about the Turkish problem. The matter will be given thorough consideration from all angles, so as to prevent a second Yugoslavia.
4. Settlements have been reached on practically all major points of German‑French relations. Germany has promised the opening up of many places and the lessening of the load in the occupied areas. Moreover, Germany has guaranteed not only French retention of her African colonies, but the handing over of certain parts of Central Africa to be taken from the British, to the French. Mussolini has concurred in withdrawing Italian demands for Tunis. Italy will be amply rewarded by Egypt and Syria. There have been absolutely no talks between Germany and France pertaining to any area outside of Europe and Africa. Nor has Germany made any guarantees outside of the above‑mentioned area.
5. The German navy has been strongly advocating the dispatching of German submarines to the Mediterranean Sea. In deference to Italy, however, Hitler has been refraining from doing so. However, his patience came to an end when recently German ships were sunk in the vicinity of Sicily. As a result, 12 German submarines were sent into the Mediterranean. The sinking of the Ark Royal was the fruit of this decision. These submarines are based at Corsica. (Please keep this point a strict secret.)
[a] See IV, 795.
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